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TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Arizona Cardinals announced Tuesday that Steve Keim will take over as general manager.

Keim, 40, has a long history with the organization, starting out in 1999 as a college scout. He was promoted to director of college scouting in 2006, director of player personnel in 2008 and finally vice president of player personnel last year.

Of the 37 players selected by the Cardinals since 2008, 25 remain with the team and 23 have started at least one game with the Cardinals.

According to Gregg Rosenthal of Around the League, Keim was expected to be a popular candidate for several GM jobs.

Keim, who grew up Harrisburg, Penn., has on-field experience that complements his time in the front office.

He was a two-time ACC Conference selection as a guard at N.C. State. Selected as the offensive freshman of the year in 1991, Keim started in 36 consecutive games. He was the team's captain his senior year.

The new Cardinals GM also played at the professional level. He was a free agent with the Miami Dolphins in 1996 and played in Canada's pro league in 1997.

From there he returned to his old stomping grounds to be a strength and conditioning coach and a liaison to NFL scouts looking at N.C. State players.

With the GM position filled the organization now needs to sign a head coach. The team says Keim will be part of that process.

"The team has already interviewed its own defensive coordinator, Ray Horton, as well as Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy," team writer Darren Urban said on AZCardinals.com. "They would like to talk to Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley, and they will interview Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden later this week."

Former head coach Ken Whisenhunt and former GM Rod Graves were among several fired by the team on Dec. 31.

Graves had been with the Cardinals franchise for 16 years. He was named general manager in 2007.

After a strong start to the season, the Cardinals finished at 5-11. Those 11 losses came in the last 12 games.